Operator group MTN and Liquid Telecom, a wholesale provider, claim a new partnership offers businesses access to the largest fixed-mobile footprint in Africa.

The partnership covering wholesale, carrier-to-carrier, high speed broadband, enterprise and fixed data services enables MTN and Liquid Telecom to access each other’s fixed and mobile networks in African countries, where one or other may not currently have a presence.

The agreement gives MTN the ability to service its multinational enterprise customers in Burundi, DRC, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. It also enables the operator to provide coverage outside Africa.

“This partnership will provide great benefits to our customers. We will be able to leverage each other’s products and services to improve our offerings to carrier and enterprise customers in Africa, the Middle East and Europe,” said Elia Tsouros, MTN’s enterprise business unit head of global sales.

“In addition, we have the opportunity to offer our customers services beyond our footprint, thanks to the combined footprints of both companies, as well as those of our partners,” he added.

For its part, Liquid said the deal fills a gap in its West Africa coverage. “We have a well-deserved reputation in East, Central and Southern Africa, for providing quality broadband to businesses. We are laying 100km of new fibre every week but have decided to partner for the time being in West Africa so that we can immediately meet demand from businesses there,” says Nic Rudnick, CEO of The Liquid Telecom Group.